(Seguin) — Seguin High School students will forever be reminded of the late Steve Garcia Jr. Garcia, who served as the school’s welding teacher for 20 plus years, was recently recognized with the unveiling of a special memorial plaque outside the welding classroom.
Unveiling the plaque in front of Garcia’s family members and students was Seguin High School Principal Dr. Hector Esquivel.
Dr. Esquivel say the plaque represents the imprint left behind by Garcia.
“Obviously, he affected a lot of these kids. A lot of kids have come before these kids, lots of people so I thought, what better way than to bring Steve back home to where he spent a lot of time loving these kids than this area right here. So, I’m excited that Steve will always be with us – not only in our minds and in our hearts but here at our school so everybody can know that he is a true legend when it comes to our school. Mom, we also wanted to give you a replica and present it to you so he can always be near you at home as well,” said Dr. Esquivel.
Garcia had just retired this past spring from the Seguin ISD when he lost his battle to COVID-19 over the summer.
His mother Maggie Garcia says being in the classroom is where her son felt he needed to be.
“He would come to me and say, ‘you know what mom?” It’s like back then, they used to have this movie called ‘To Sir, With Love’ with Sidney Poitier and he says ‘that’s the way I feel sometimes. These kids come in real wild and when they leave, ‘oh mom! They are just so grateful that I taught them everything that they know’ and that’s the way it all started every year,” said Garcia.
His mother points out that prior to welding, Garcia first began as the mechanics teacher. In fact, she says her son had just started up his own vehicle restoration/repair business when he passed away.
“He was very proud of that. He loved to restore cars because as growing up as a kid, he had a Belair, a 1955 Belair that he and his dad restored together, and he was so proud of that. He gave his daddy his diploma and his daddy gave him that 55 Chevy Belair,” said Garcia.
Garcia says she is forever thankful to the high school for honoring her son’s service and for ensuring that her son’s legacy lives on.
“As his mom, I didn’t expect to get a plaque. I was just there to see the plaque be put on the classroom, but I feel so proud of him. I appreciate what they did for my son,” said Garcia.
Earlier this fall, Garcia was also posthumously honored by receiving the Apple Award from Seguin ISD Superintendent Matthew Gutierrez. The award honored him for his 25 years of service as a SHS educator. The award was presented to his family during a September school board meeting. At the time, Dr. Gutierrez noted that Garcia “made a positive impact on thousands of Seguin High School students during his career and left a lasting legacy on the Seguin Community.”